With summer arriving early in Bengaluru and last year’s water shortage still fresh in memory, the city is preparing for months of heat. However, despite concerns, the reservoir levels at Krishna Raja Sagar, and Kabini, along with Hemavathy, and Harangi reservoirs currently hold more than twice the water they did last year, enough to last until the next monsoon, according to Viswanath Srikantaiah, founder of Rainwater Club and a water activist.
While this provides temporary relief, experts emphasise the need for long-term solutions. Srikantaiah pointed out that the challenge lies in distribution, not availability. “For the approximate 11.5 million people connected to the Cauvery, there is no immediate crisis. However, nearly 3 million residents who rely on groundwater will face serious shortages due to rapid depletion,” he explains. This includes peripheral areas like Sarjapura, Whitefield, Yelahanka, and beyond.
Considering this, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has issued an order prohibiting the use of potable water for non-essential purposes, which includes washing cars, watering gardens, construction of buildings and roads.
Why does Bengaluru face the same issue every year?
Bengaluru has grappled with water shortages since 1876 due to its altitude, and as the city expands, demand continues to outpace distribution capacity, explained Srikantaiah. The lack of a natural river further exacerbates the issue, adds urbanist V Ravichandar.
While newer constructions are required to have separate groundwater reuse lines, older buildings lack sewage treatment plants or water recycling systems, making retrofitting essential. However, policies need to be more progressive to encourage this transition, notes Ravichandar.
Infrastructure challenges
A key issue that needs to be addressed while tackling water shortage is the misuse of stormwater drains as sewage outlets, says Ravichandar. “The more sewage that gets treated properly, the better shape our drains will be in, it is all interlinked.”
Efforts like the K-100 project and the water resilience project in collaboration with the World Bank, aim to revamp the city’s drain network to better capture rainwater. However, it will take at least 2–3 years to see results, explains citizen activist Srinivas Alavilli.
Compared to last year, the city is better prepared, with BWSSB expanding Cauvery water pipelines to more areas, potentially reducing groundwater reliance in some parts of the city. Additionally, citizens have been more proactive, and groundwater recharge activities have increased, Srinivas opined
Beyond traditional solutions like expanding Cauvery water supply, rainwater harvesting, and sewage treatment, experts stress the need to leverage technology and behavioural science.
“We should leverage technology, and arrange hackathons focused on water where innovative solutions for treatment, conservation, and reuse are developed,” suggests Ravichandar. He also emphasises the role of behavioural science, “If each person consciously reduces water usage, the collective impact could be significant.”